Schleck takes lead

PRATO NEVOSO, Italy -- Frank Schleck of Luxembourg likes to attack. He also likes the look of his yellow jersey.

He became the new leader of the Tour de France on Sunday. Whether that lasts remains to be seen. The race is now in the Alps, where countless riders have been broken.

"Don't kick me while I'm happy," Schleck said.

His jump to the front of cycling's showpiece event came on a day when Simon Gerrans of Australia won the 15th stage. Gerrans was not chased by the leading contenders. It was the first time he won a stage in four Tour appearances, a victory he called a "beautiful thing."

Schleck, who came into the stage one second behind Cadel Evans, sped ahead at the finish to wrest the yellow jersey from the Australian. Schleck leads Bernhard Kohl of Austria by seven seconds. Evans slipped to third, eight seconds back.

"For me to take the yellow jersey, it's a childhood dream," Schleck said.

Schleck credited CSC teammate and younger brother Andy for surging ahead at least twice during the final climb in a bid to force Evans to work hard.

"Thanks, bro," Frank Schleck said.

Schleck has had success before in the Alps, winning a Tour stage in 2006 up the famed Alpe d'Huez, which riders will face Wednesday. He now wants to build his lead in the mountains, knowing that Evans most likely will be stronger in the time trial during the next-to-last stage before the July 27 finish in Paris.

"If I can, I will attack," Frank Schleck said. "I have to take some time out of these guys of course if I want to win the Tour. But let me just enjoy it right now."

Trying to move beyond a string of doping scandals, the Tour has gotten tighter as it heads into the final week.